Apparatus for filling aerosol cans



May 20, 1969 w. MooNAN ETAL 3,444,906

APPARATUS FOR FILLING AEROSOL CANS Filed Oct. 30, 1964 a i 1 i 50 E! g il' 2/ "j d 70 83 60 58 /yd jflf; 8/ l g 1 Y l 30 /4 j 54 o 1" L95 3 j .45 l 4 52` 56 57 75 INVENTORS 77 Y ////4M MOOA/AA( 75 l 66 CQ/chape@ M x60/wap.: 65 75 BY N /gd 72 u i 83 d KW fl j l 58 Aff/JM NM 70 36 6o 73 Y ,4free/wrs United States Patent O 3,444,906 APPARATUS FOR FILLING AEROSOL CANS William Moonan, Shaker Heights, and Richard H. Skidmore, Lyndhurst, Ohio, assignors to Sprayon Products, Inc., Bedford Heights, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Oct. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 407,771 Int. Cl. B65d 1/04, 3/04 U.S. Cl. 141-20 6 Claims This invention relates to the packaging of pressurized products and more particularly to apparatus whereby a liquid product to be dispensed, such as a paint, lacquer or other material that is to be dispensed in aerosol form, can be injected into an aerosol can that already contains the liquified propellant gas that is used to discharge the contents ofthe can.

This application is directed to a modification of apparatus for filling pressurized containers disclosed in applications, Ser. No. 340,261 lfiled Ian. 27, 1964 in the name of William Moonan and Ser. No. 403,886 filed Oct. H

14, 1964 in the names of William Moonan and Richard H. Skidmore, both assigned to the same assignee as the instant application.

Frequently, paints and the like are sold in different sizes of aerosol containers or cans. In filling these cans it is often desired to fill a number of cans with the same color or type of liquid and it is also desired to remove the aerosol can without dismantling the apparatus and to reinsert the can into the filling apparatus if it is desired to add additional liquid. Priorly, it has been necessary to accurately measure the amount of liquid supplied to the pump cylinder or to observe the changes in liquid level as the can is filled so that no more than the required amount of liquid would be contained in the cylinder and transferred to an individual can and to prevent leakage loss of the liquid from the discharge port after the can is removed. This, however, is disadvantageous with respect to the filling of a number of cans with the same type of liquid because it is time consuming.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved aerosol can `filling apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved can filling apparatus in which it is possible to fill the reservoir of the filling apparatus with sufficient liquid to fill a number of cans prior to the insertion of a can into the apparatus.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a can filling apparatus in which a can may be removed and reinserted relative to the apparatus without leakage of the filling liquid from the apparatus discharge port.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a can filling apparatus with a liquid containing liner which can be filled with sufficient liquid to fill a number of aerosol cans and inserted and removed from the apparatus without dripping the liquid.

A further object of this invention is to provide a can filling apparatus with a removable liner having a valve in the discharge port from which the cans may be removed without dripping the liquid.

Briey, in accordance with aspects of this invention, filling apparatus for filling pressurized containers is provided with a pump assembly including a piston, a cylinder, a removable cylinder liner provided with a main reservoir portion, a working bore portion for cooperating with the piston, and a reduced neck portion to receive the discharge nozzle of the can to be filled which reduced neck portion includes valve means for closing the discharge port of the reduced neck portion when the nozzle of the can is removed. In accordance with one specific embodiment of this invention, the reduced neck portion of the liner is provided with at least one integral O ring adjacent the discharge port and a ball check valve in V3,444,906 Patented May 20, 1969 ICC this reduced neck portion which engages the O ring when the discharge nozzle of the can is removed to thus prevent leakage of the filling fluid. With this arrangement of discharge valve in the liner, it is possible to insert and remove the liner relative to the pump cylinder while the liner is filled with the filling fluid and it is possible to fill the liner with more than the amount of liquid required for a single dispensing can. When the can nozzle is inserted into the reduced neck portion of the liner, the end of the discharge nozzle lifts the ball check valve out of its position of engagement with the O ring seal and the piston develops suicient pressure to drive the liquid through the annular passage around the ball check valve and through a notch in the can discharge nozzle. The liquid pressure overcomes the spring bias of the nozzle discharge valve and enters the can.

These and various other objects and features of the invention will be more clearly understood from the reading of the detailed description of the invention in conjunction with the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation, and in perspective, of an aerosol can filling apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in elevation, and in section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. l; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2 except that the can is removed.

FIG. 1 shows in perspective, a pressurized can filling apparatus 10 for filling aerosol cans, such as a can 11, which apparatus is generally of the type disclosed in the latter mentioned application. The filling apparatus 10 includes a generally U shaped base portion 12 with a pair of legs 13 from which a group of rubber feet 14 depend, a generally horseshoe-shaped top plate 15 which is secured to the base portion by means of screws such as the screws 16 and a web 17 connecting the legs.

A pump assembly is mounted on and linked to the top plate 15 by means of a pair of projecting arms 18, 19 which receive a pump handle pivot arrn 20 and connect to the pivot arm 20 by means of a pin 21. The pivot arm 20 has a bifurcated end which receives and is linked to one end of a handle 23 by means of a pivot pin 24. The handle 23 may be manually actuated by means of a handle grip 25 on the end of the handle 23 opposite from the pivot pin 24 as indicated by a hand l26. The pump assembly also includes a pump cylinder 30 which receives a piston assembly including a cylinder top 31 and a piston 32 slidably engaging the top 31 and connected to handle 23 by means of a pin 33. When the can 11 is inserted in the filling apparatus it opens the discharge valve in a manner which will be subsequently described such that the downward movement of the handle 23 produces pressures within the pump cylinder 30 sufficient to overcome the pressure of the liquitied propellant and the spring 'in the discharge nozzle valve such that the liquid in the cylinder 30 is forced into the can 11. Because the filling apparatus includes a novel discharge valve, which will be subsequently described in detail, it is possible to fill the pump cylinder 30 with liquids sufficient to fill a number of cans 11.

Advantageously, the insertion of the nozzle of the can 11 into the filling apparatus opens the discharge valve and the can 11 locks onto the end of the pump cylinder 30 by means of a suitable locking means which will be subsequently described. The end of cylinder 30 is provided with a can locking device of the type disclosed in the above mentioned joint application, making it possible to fill cans of different sizes. For example, as indicated in FIG. 1, the can 11 clears the fiat base portion or web 17 of the base portion 12, After the can is filled with sufficient liquid, then the can 11 may be removed by releasing the locking engagement of the apparatus without incurring leakage of the liquid through the discharge port as will be subsequently described.

FIG. 2 shows a can discharge nozzle inserted in the discharge port of the iilling apparatus. The pump cylinder 30 includes a cylindrical portion 43 which is crimped to a suitable cylindrical cap portion 44 as indicated at 45. The cylinder 30 is positioned within the horseshoe-shaped portion of the top plate and moved to seat in the slot defined by the horseshoe-shaped top plate. The cylinder 30 is locked in position by a ball type detent locking arrangement which includes a ball 46 sliding in a generally cylindrical passage 47 and urged into engagement with a portion of the cylinder 30 by means of a spring 48 against the ball 46. The pump cylinder cap 44 includes a frustoconical portion 50 and a cylindrical portion 51 communicating with the frusto-conical portion 50. The cylindrical portion 51 termin-ates in a threaded end 52 for supporting a can locking means including a can locking bushing 53, a sliding annular ring or sleeve 54 and an annular dished thrust spring 55. The can locking bushing 53 is generally cylindrical in configuration and includes a pair of cylindrical segments 56, 57 spaced apart in parallel relationship by means of a radially extending flange portion 58. The space between the cylindrical portions 56, 57 is also cylindrical in shape to receive a cylindrical projection 60 of the sliding sleeve 54. The sliding sleeve 54 also includes a radially extending iiange 61. The locking bushing carries a plurality of locking balls 64 which are each positioned in an individual radially directed passage such as passages 65, 66. These passages 65, 66 have diameters greater than the balls 64 to permit the balls 64 to slide and roll and terminate in openings 67, 68 respectively, each having a smaller diameter than the diameter of the balls 64 such that the balls 64 are retained within the passages. Advantageously, the cylindrical portion 60 of the sliding sleeve 54 includes a frustoconical surface 70 on the lower outer edge thereof for engaging the balls 64 and forcing these balls 64 radially outwardly as the sliding sleeve 54 moves downwardly as viewed in FIG. 2. The locking means including bushing 53, locking balls 64, sleeve 54 and spring 55 produces and maintains a locking engagement with the top portion of the can in a manner which will be subsequently described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the can 11 includes a cap 72 which supports a discharge nozzle 73 containing a spring biased valve which will be subsequently described. Advantageously, the discharge nozzle 73 has a notch 74 in the tip thereof to permit entry of the liquid between the nozzle and the ball valve which will be subsequently described. The cap 72 is generally concave and includes a C shaped side wall portion 75 which terminates in an inverted U shaped outer lip 76. The outer surface of the portion 75 and the inner surface of the lip 76 secure a resilient sealing ring 77 in fluid sealing relationship against the top portion or lip 78 of the can 11. The locking engagement between the balls 64 of the locking bushing 53 and C shaped portion 75 of the cap 72 is obtained by positioning the balls in engagement with the C shaped portion 75 of the cap 72 and locking the balls in this position by means of the cylindrical portion 60 of the sliding sleeve 54. In FIG. 2, the sliding sleeve 54 is manually moved upwardly from its position of engagement with the balls 64 by compressing spring 55 such that the balls are free to move radially within their respective passages 65, 66. Because the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 57 of the locking bushing 53 is smaller than the inner diameter of the U shaped lip 76 of the cap 72, the locking bushing 53 freely enters the bowl-shaped cap 72. During this entry, the balls 64 are forced radially inwardly when they engage the U shaped lip 76 of the cap 72. Preferably, the engagement depicted in FIG. 2 is accompanied by relative rotary motion between cylinder 30 and the can 11 about their common axis until the nozzle 73 reaches a 4 position within the plastic liner 40 which is shown in detail in FIG. 3.

After the locking bushing 53 has reached a position in which the radial liange portion 58 engages the cap 72, the sliding ring 54 is released and permitted to move downwardly in response to the force of spring 55 until the frusto-conical surface 70 passes the balls 64 and the balls are locked into position 'by means of the cylindrical portion 60, as best seen in FIG. 3. Because the balls 64 are now secured in their terminal outward position, these balls securely engage the axially extending C shaped surface 75 on diametrically opposite portions of the cap 72, in this particular example, and thus lock the can 11 to the cylinder 30.

Advantageously, plastic insert 40 includes a main reservoir S1, which holds suliicient liquid to iill a number of cans 11, a cylindrical discharge nozzle or discharge port 82 and an inwardly directed circular flange, or integral O ring 83, extending from the cylindrical portion 82 into a tight fitting engagement with the nozzle 73. In accordance with aspects of this invention, cylindrical discharge nozzle 82 is provided with a discharge valve to prevent the discharge of liquid unless a dispensing can nozzle is inserted in the discharge nozzle 82. In this particular embodiment, the discharge valve is a ball valve 84 which is normally urged by gravity against the integral O ring 83 of the reduced cylindrical portion 82, as shown in FIG. 3. However, when the discharge nozzle 73 is inserted, preferably with a twisting motion, the end of the discharge nozzle 73 displaces the ball valve 84 from its seat with O ring 83 and lifts the ball valve to the position shown in FIG. 2. Because the nozzle 73 is provided with a notch 74 adjacent the discharge end of the nozzle 73, liquid may be forced into the can by the repeated operation of the handle 23. It is possible with this particular arrangement to count the number of strokes and thus determine the amount of liquid delivered to the aerosol can 11. With this arrangement, it is therefore possible to iill a number of cans without disassembling the refilling apparatus and without spilling or wasting any of the liquid which is to be filled.

FIG. 2 also shows the frictional engagement of the detent ball 46 with a cylindrical surface 85 of the cap portion 44 of the pump cylinder 30. The cap portion 44 of the pump cylinder 30 includes a circular liange 86 which engages one surface of the horseshoe-shaped top plate 15 so that the cylinder 30 is securely held in axial alignment with the piston 32. This engagement prevents the pump cylinder 30 from sliding from the U shaped top plate 15 of the iilling apparatus 10. The plastic insert 40 also includes a pair of inwardly directed circular anges or integral O rings 87, 88 at the top edge of a cylindrical .section 90 such that the rings 87, 8S produce a tight working engagement with the pump piston 32 when the pump piston is forced downwardly by the handle 23. The pump piston terminates in a short frusto-conical portion 92 which clears the ball check valve 84 when the piston 32 is in its lower terminal position.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 except that the discharge nozzle 73 of can 11 has been removed and the ball 84 has seated against the integral O ring 83 to prevent the loss of liquid within the liner 40. The apparatus is now ready to receive an additional dispensing can for the purpose of yfilling same. Alternatively, the liner 40 may be replaced by a new liner 40 filled with suil'icient liquid to supply a number of cans 11.

While certain illustrative features have been shown in conjunction with this single embodiment, it is understood that the concepts thereof may be employed in other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for charging material to be sprayed into an aerosol can containing a liquied propellant gas under pressure, the can having a normally closed discharge valve at the top thereof, the apparatus comprising a b-ase, a cylinder member supported on the base and having a main Working bore communicating at its lower end with a bore of reduced diameter that closely surrounds the discharge valve of a can disposed in the apparatus, means for forming -a seal between the interior of the bore of reduced diameter and the exterior of the discharge valve of an aerosol can disposed in the apparatus and a reservoir for supplying material to be injected into the aerosol can to the working bore, a piston operable in the working bore for injecting material into the can and a valve member in the bore of reduced diameter for preventing leakage of material from the apparatus when the discharge valve is disengaged from the bore of reduced diameter, the means for forming a seal between the bore of reduced diameter and the exterior of the discharge valve also constituting a seat that is engageable by the valve member to prevent leakage from said bore When there is no aerosol can disposed in the apparatus and being lifted from its seat by direct engagement with the upper end of the discharge valve of an aerosol can that is positioned in the apparatus for charging.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a passage is provided for the flow of material into said discharge valve between the top of said discharge valve and the valve member when the discharge valve is in engagement with said valve member.

3. Apparatus for charging material to be sprayed into an aerosol can containing a liquilied propellant gas under pressure, said can having a normally closed discharge valve at the top thereof, said apparatus comprising a cylinder member having a working bore communicating with a bore of reduced diameter disposed below the working bore for surrounding the discharge valve of a can disposed in the apparatus, a disposable, unitary liner removably disposed within said cylinder member, said liner having a reservoir portion Iadapted to receive material to be injected into said aerosol can, a cylindrical portion disposed within the working bore of the cylinder member and a portion of reduced diameter disposed within said bore of reduced diameter of said cylinder member and closely surrounding the discharge valve of a can disposed in the apparatus, means for providing a seal between the interior of said portion of reduced diameter of said liner and the exterior of said discharge valve, a piston making a Working lit with said working bore of said cylindrical portion of said liner, means for reciprocating said piston, and a ball valve in the portion of reduced diameter of said liner for preventing the leakage of liquid from said apparatus when the aerosol can is removed, said ball valve being moved to open position by direct engagement with the discharge valve of an aerosol can that is being charged with material to be sprayed.

4. A disposable liner for an apparatus for charging material to be sprayed into an aerosol can having a normally closed discharge valve and containing liquied propellant gas under pressure, the liner comprising an integrally formed member having a cylindrical portion adapted to make a working t with a reciprocable piston, a reservoir portion at the upper end of said cylindrical portion and adapted to receive material to be injected into an aerosol can, a connecting portion at the lower end of the cylindrical portion and adapted to make a uidtight connection with the discharge valve of an aerosol can and a valve disposed in said connecting portion for preventing leakage of the material from the liner when the aerosol can is removed from engagement with the liner, said valve being opened by direct engagement with the discharge valve of an aerosol can that is being charged with material to be sprayed.

5. A liner according to claim 4 having an integrally formed sealing ring in the connecting portion thereof, the valve that prevents leakage of material from the liner being a ball valve that seats on the sealing ring.

6. A liner according to claim 4 wherein the sealing ring makes sealing engagement with the discharge valve of a can when material is being injected into the can.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,335,765 8/1967 Moonan 141-20 3,013,591 12/1961 Stanley et al 141-3 3,227,161 l/l966 De Lorenzo 141-27 X 3,237,809 3/ 1966 Daragan et al. 222-325 X 3,256,917 6/1966 Baumann et al. 141-349 X FOREIGN PATENTS 229,913 2/ 1944 Switzerland.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD I. EARLS, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR CHARGING MATERIAL TO BE SPRAYED INTO AN AEROSOL CAN CONTAINING A LIQUIFIED PROPELLANT GAS UNDER PRESSURE, THE CAN HAVING A NORMALLY CLOSED DISCHARGE VALVE AT THE TOP THEREOF, THE APPARATUS COMPRISING A BASE, A CYLINDER MEMBER SUPPORTED ON THE BASE AND HAVING A MAIN WORKING BORE COMMUNICATING AT ITS LOWER END WITH A BORE OF REDUCED DIAMETER THAT CLOSELY SURROUNDS THE DISCHARGE VALVE OF A CAN DISPOSED IN THE APPARATUS, MEANS FOR FORMING A SEAL BETWEEN THE INTERIOR OF THE BORE OF REDUCTED DIAMETER AND EXTERIOR OF THE DISCHARGE VALVE OF AN AEROSOL CAN DISPOSED IN THE APPARATUS AND A RESERVOIR FOR SUPPLYING MATERIAL TO BE INJECTED INTO THE AEROSOL CAN TO THE WORKING BORE, A PISTON OPERABLE IN THE WORKING BORE FOR INJECTING MATERIAL INTO THE CAN AND A VALVE MEMBER IN THE BORE OF REDUCTED DIAMETER FOR PREVENTING LEAKAGE OF MATERIAL FROM THE APPARATUS WHEN THE DISCHARGE VALVE IS DISENGAGED FROM THE BORE OF REDUCED DIAMETER, THE MEANS FOR FORMING A SEAL BETWEEN THE BORE OF REDUCED DIAMETER AND THE EXTERIOR OF THE DISCHARGE VALVE ALSO CONSTITUTING A SEAT THAT IS ENGAGEABLE BY THE VALVE MEMBER TO PROVENT LEAKAGE FROM SAID BORE WHEN THERE IS NO AEROSOL CAN DISPOSED IN THE APPARATUS AND BEING LIFTED FROM ITS SEAT BY DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH THE UPPER END OF THE DISCHARGE VALVE OF AN AEROSOL CAN THAT IS POSITIONED IN THE APPARATUS FOR CHARGING. 